Soseki Natsume's Botchan
The Manga Edition
One of the most popular novels of all time in Japan — now available in manga form!
Reckless but unfailingly honest, Botchan is the youngest son in a middle-class Tokyo family. Following his graduation from college, he takes a job as a math teacher on the island of Shikoku, far from the city. Thrust into this alien small-town environment, Botchan encounters nothing but trouble from his students and fellow teachers. Among his tormentors are a pompous, two-faced vice-principal; his fawning sidekick, the spineless principal; and a pack of brawny, prankster students — all of whom seem out to get him. Mayhem ensues, but in the end Botchan prevails through honesty and dogged determination.
A modern classic, Botchan rivals Soseki's famous I Am a Cat in popularity in Japan. This is the funniest of Soseki's novels, a penetrating portrait of a young man's quest to survive the suffocating hypocrisy of everyone around him while remaining true to his beliefs.
'Filled with light, satirical touches.' — Donald Keene
Recommended for readers ages 14 and up due to explicit language
Soseki Natsume was born in Tokyo and taught English in a small town before studying for three years in England. Returning to teach at prestigious Tokyo University, he began his writing career and soon achieved widespread acclaim. His novels include I Am a Cat, Kokoro and Kusamakura.
Kaori Okura is a manga artist in Japan. She is the creator of many comics for young adult and female readers.
Translation by Makiko Itoh, author of the Just Bento cookbook series and has translated many Japanese works into English including Zen Wisdom for the Anxious and Modern Japanese Ikebana. She writes regular columns on food for The Japan Times.
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